Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Hospital Overcrowding

Martin Browne

832. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 557 of 4 May, the remit of the specialist or expert team that has been deployed to University Hospital Limerick as part of an emergency plan to ease crisis levels of overcrowding at the hospital; the date that team was deployed; if the team will visit other hospitals within the group such as Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's; and when the team is due to report back.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23430/22]

Rental Sector

Martin Browne

169. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to instances in which tenants in private rental accommodation are tolerating substandard housing conditions, breaches of their rental rights and even threats and abuse because they are reluctant to report these issues out of fear that they will be evicted and made homeless in a virtually non-existent rental market; if he will engage with the relevant housing bodies to address the circumstances that cause tenants to be reluctant to report breaches of their tenancy rights for these reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22551/22]

Hospital Overcrowding

Martin Browne

521. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the details of the specialist team tasked with addressing trolley numbers at University Hospital Limerick; the options that will be open to this specialist team to improve patient pathways; the way this specialist team will address the impact that high trolley numbers at UHL is affecting services at Nenagh Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22169/22]

Vacant Properties

Martin Browne

17. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance if he is committed to introducing a vacant property tax following the collection of data on vacancy levels under objective 19.12 of Housing for All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21438/22]

Tax Reliefs

Martin Browne

59. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance the reason that the eligibility criteria for access to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme were inequitable and needed to be changed; the further reason that he and his Department failed to respond to those concerns despite warnings from members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal and when those warnings were first raised with him. [21437/22]

Hospital Services

Martin Browne

156. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the staffing allocation for the room at the emergency department at Tipperary University Hospital that is specifically for patients presenting with mental health issues; the grades of staff attending; the hours that staff are in attendance; the number of hours per week the room is staffed; if the room is fully resourced and staffed to accept patients on a 24-7 basis; the regularity with which the room is available to patients presenting with mental health issues on a 24-hour basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21391/22]

Departmental Policies

Martin Browne

158. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 352 of 24 February 2022, the status of the feasibility study into remunerating service user family member carers. [21415/22]

Rail Network

Martin Browne

157. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his views on the benefits that more focused strategic planning to ensure a minimum level of rail services and standards for rural and regional railways would have for rural Ireland and for regional connectivity; his further views on extending public service obligation services to foster greater development in and use of these rail services with particular reference to the Limerick-Ballybrophy line and services involving Limerick junction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21065/22]

National Car Test

Martin Browne

344. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address the current backlog in NCT tests given that wait times are currently up to four months in some test centres; and his plans to take action to address the backlog. [19264/22]

Child and Family Agency

Martin Browne

1096. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that a person (details supplied) had their tender proposal to Tusla rejected despite their successful provision of services since 2020. [19265/22]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

1554. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who are needed to reach full staffing levels in each children’s disability network team in the CHO 3 and CHO 5 areas; the number of staff who are currently in place in each children’s disability network team in the CHO 3 and CHO 5 areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20112/22]

Passport Services

Martin Browne

286. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); the progress to date in the processing of the application for renewal; if all efforts will be made to ensure that the passport issues in time for travel on 13 April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18992/22]

School Funding

Martin Browne

511. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if additional resources will be made available by her Department for schools that are facing a significant demand for translation services; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is uncertainty in this regard among some schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18405/22]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Martin Browne

566. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a database or other such resource is available on a localised level to assist in the identification of housing availability for Ukrainian refugees; if his attention has been drawn to schools seeking housing for children in emergency accommodation due to the lack of a local resource on housing availability and his efforts to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18402/22]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Martin Browne

567. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a structure is being put in place to ensure that services such as the HSE medical card services are notified of the presentation of Ukrainian refugees at their offices in order that preparations can be made to deal with their needs such as ensuring adequate numbers of staff are available and the presence of translators can be arranged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18403/22]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Martin Browne

568. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration is being given to provide publicly funded translation services to assist agencies dealing with Ukrainian refugees given the high costs that are being encountered by Tusla and other organisations that acquire the services of private providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18404/22]

Forestry Sector

Martin Browne

138. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the weekly targets for forestry licensing, by type, in 2022. [16993/22]

Horticulture Sector

Martin Browne

166. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in the appointment of an independent expert as referenced in the working paper to address challenges related to peat supply in the horticulture sector; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the meantime businesses in the horticultural sector are experiencing difficulties in raising queries with Bord na Móna regarding the availability of suitable peat stocks. [16992/22]

Post Office Network

Martin Browne

213. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide certainty to postmasters regarding future support for the post office network before the end of current supports in June 2022. [16184/22]

An Garda Síochána

Martin Browne

640. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the pressure being put on members of An Garda Síochána to respond to calls for help from young persons with mental health issues or suicidal ideation. [15894/22]

Hospital Services

Martin Browne

641. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of rooms at accident and emergency departments that are specifically for the use of patients presenting with mental health issues. [15895/22]

Disabilities Assessments

Martin Browne

35. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the Department of Health to address the difficulties children are experiencing in accessing a timely assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15103/22]

International Protection

Martin Browne

62. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he foresees any change in the implementation of the White Paper on ending Direct Provision in view of the Ukrainian crisis. [15104/22]

National Planning Framework

Martin Browne

351. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been an update from his Department to local authorities in relation to the connection to the local area and the need to live in the community aspect of planning policy, in view of the increase in remote working and the Government's stated aim to encourage remote working in rural communities. [14809/22]

National Planning Framework

Martin Browne

352. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been any update from his Department to local authorities in relation to the connection to the local area aspects of planning policy and the need to live in the community aspects, in view of the rising cost of housing and the chronic lack of supply, which are forcing persons away from areas they would otherwise stay if they were able to get planning permission or if there was not a chronic lack of housing in many areas. [14810/22]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

1100. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists in the CHO5 and CHO3 areas in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, by area. [15082/22]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

1101. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of patient cancellations that have occurred in CHO5 and CHO3 to date in 2022 due to the fact that speech and language therapists have been reassigned; the reason for this; the figures by area [15083/22]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

1102. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of initial assessments of needs that have taken place in CHO5 and CHO3 in 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of assessments of needs that have taken place in CHO5 and CHO3 in 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15084/22]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

1103. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the campaigns that are and have been underway to recruit speech and language therapists in CHO5 and CHO3 in 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists that have been recruited in 2021 and to date in 2022 in each CHO area; and the details of recruitment campaigns currently underway and scheduled for these areas. [15085/22]

Fuel Prices

Martin Browne

186. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to address the rising fuel costs (details supplied); and the measures he plans to introduce to reduce fuel costs. [13625/22]

Housing Provision

Martin Browne

82. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the reluctance of some local authorities to take charge of housing estates containing developer provided water infrastructure based on the distance from the DPI infrastructure to the local public connection; his views on whether additional funding should be made available for such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13288/22]

Local Authorities

Martin Browne

83. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 352 of 1 March 2022, if a local authority can refuse to take over responsibility for the roads and footpaths, public lighting and open spaces following a request to do so by the majority of dwellings owners at least four years since the expiry of planning permission; if so, the situations in which such a refusal can be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13289/22]

Housing Policy

Martin Browne

84. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that his Department does not hold data on a year-to-year basis regarding developments that have been taken in charge; his views on whether it would be appropriate to reconsider this stance given the number of estates nationally that are not receiving any assistance for their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13290/22]

Environmental Policy

Martin Browne

213. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports that are available for farmers whose land has been affected by Bord na Móna rewetting bogs.. [12264/22]

Environmental Policy

Martin Browne

214. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a farmer whose land has been left unworkable due to Bord na Móna rewetting neighbouring bogland is entitled to financial compensation.. [12265/22]

Water Services

Martin Browne

273. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to applicants being refused mortgages on houses in estates due to the fact that they cannot be taken in charge by local authorities due to the lack of an agreement between Irish Water and local authorities on the transfer of developer provided water and wastewater infrastructure; the actions he is taking to resolve this in view of the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12231/22]

Water Services

Martin Browne

352. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide funding to local authorities to enable them to contribute to the non-water infrastructure of housing estates that are yet to be taken in charge; his views on whether local authorities should be able to partially take charge of housing estates that have developer-provided infrastructure in order to cater for their non-water related infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11258/22]

Water Services

Martin Browne

353. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider increasing the funding that is available to local authorities to take in charge developer provided water services infrastructure estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11259/22]

Water Services

Martin Browne

354. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing estates with developer provided water infrastructure taken in charge by each local authority since 2015, by year. [11260/22]

School Accommodation

Martin Browne

459. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made in transferring ownership of the old HSE house on the Old Road, Cashel to a school (details supplied).
[11011/22]

School Facilities

Martin Browne

653. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in transferring ownership of the old HSE house on the Old Road, Cashel to a school (details supplied).
[11010/22]

Forestry Sector

Martin Browne

827. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of files (details supplied) which are with the ecology section of the Forest Service; when the files in question are likely to be processed; the length of time the files have been with the service; if those files are likely to be processed within the four month timeframe; if it is appropriate for the Forest Service to tell a client that it does not have a timeframe as to when the application will be processed due to a large backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10912/22]

Animal Welfare

Martin Browne

838. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding made available to Tipperary County Council for equine related matters including control of horses and training courses by year since 2016. [11261/22]

Animal Welfare

Martin Browne

839. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated to equine welfare in County Tipperary by year since 2016. [11262/22]

Animal Welfare

Martin Browne

840. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of authorised officers responsible for horse welfare in County Tipperary in each year since 2016. [11263/22]

Animal Welfare

Martin Browne

841. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of engagement his Department has had with landowners or persons responsible for land in County Tipperary on whose land instances of stray or abandoned horses has been reported each year since 2016; the number of reports of such instances in County Tipperary; and the actions that were taken. [11264/22]

Animal Welfare

Martin Browne

842. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of equine welfare and urban horse projects funded by his Department each year since 2016. [11265/22]

Environmental Schemes

Martin Browne

161. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the avenues available to customers of State retrofit schemes who have complaints in relation to sub-standard work that has been carried out on their homes; the level of oversight in place to monitor work that has been carried out; the level of oversight in place to ensure the level of work and materials used are of sufficient quality to justify the expense incurred; if his attention has been drawn to situations in which homeowners have not had their complaints treated with the seriousness deserved by contractors involved and by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; the way that such complaints are addressed and resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10474/22]

Energy Prices

Martin Browne

59. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way that the electricity credit will be paid to persons with prepay meters. [10243/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Martin Browne

601. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of carpentry apprenticeships run by individual education and training boards across the country; his plans to include this skill in the education and training boards that do not currently run carpentry apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9240/22]